The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-05-06
Tnc Mason,c Enir aud the w. I'll

Thc Masonic Fair aud the w. 4. I. u.
To the Editor Of The GrapAic.
Iregret very much that this matter
has been brought into the newspapers
(see indsr of last week. for it is of so
small Importance and SO one sided us not
to merit attention. But since it has
been forced upon the public it might be
well to give the view of an outsider.
They say: Long before Mrs. Barker
came among lis this subject was talked
of and many(N of our ladies had made
up their minds that they would not aid
the saloons by assisting the masonic
fair.
The only way in which, the Masons
may he said 10 aid the saloons, if the
term aid may be applied at all, is that
they have placed their lodge over sa-
loon after failing to induee any other
business house to build rooms for them.
The matter of establishing the lodge
where it now is was settled about the
time Mrs, Barker was here and if the
ladies knew of it long before why did
| they not petition the Masons to make
other arrangements? Such a petition
would have been signed by every Ma
| son wife, and. am sure, would have
! beer respectfully considered, and would
have as powerfully expressed the disap-
proval of the w. c. T. U. and would
have had strong and effective influence.
But to remain perfectly quiet and wait
until all contracts were executed. and the
| fair was talked of to raise means to fur
nish an atreddy establtshed lodge and then
to hold councils to dcnounce the far and
| agree not to aid and in no way encour-
age the Masons was calculated to sho W
the real animus and spitc-green spite.
They call themselves the Woman s
| Christian Temperance Union but their
action cries loudly to have the word
Christian stricken from their name.
am surprised that a woman holding the
position of a minister's wife for so many
years and having had every opportunity
for broad,and liberal culture, as Mrs.
Barker has, could have SO little love of
Christ in her heart and so narrow soul
as,to encourage such feeling of petty
spite. Had the matter been laid before
Francis Murphy, the great Christian
temperance orator, who. only compar-
itively few years ago was poor, ignor-
ant, drunken man, he would have
scorned the contemplate, narrow spirit
struggling for cheap notoriety. They
were deprived of all opportunity to ex-
press their vengeful opinions, as no call
whatever was made upon then, but hav-
ing as they imagined, laid q wonderful
egg they mus: cackle' TO the public,
however, the cackle is grossly out of
proportion to the egg Financially il
made no difference to the Masons, foI
without an exception, to this handful OF
boycotters new copper las more beau
ties than the full moon. 1t really looks
as though this faction of lhc temperance
union felt as though they must do some
thing and the course they took recomcnd
ed itself for its cheapness for they couic
Illustrate their lofty moral principles by
!, statement that assisting at the fair was
aiding the saloons is an insult to every
lady who worked for the fair, but it il
in perfect keeping with, and worthy o
, those who uttered it. I know tha
among the workers for the fair are fount
some of the strongest and most usefu
temperance women in the town. VIII,
, will use every effort and hope to gaii
. the aid of almost every Mason in carry
y ing our county for prohibition the com
ing fall. ! would respectfully suggest t
tn boycotting ladies who say 1--WE hav
minds of our own" that really woul,
. be loath again to exhibit such freak 0
shriyeled scantiness.
This is no apology for the saloon, fo
. the writer hopes and believes that it
l days in this community are numbered
=. nor is it in defence of the institution o
- Free Masonry, it needs none from III,
Y II is an institution that never stpops
defend itself in print or by argument; it
. honorable history is centuries and cer
turies old. w. II.